Compare the2025 Dodge HornetVS 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

The Hornet has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Hornet offers an optional 360° Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Corolla Cross Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Hornet has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Corolla Cross Hybrid SE/XSE/Nightshade offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Hornet has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Corolla Cross Hybrid SE/XSE/Nightshade offers Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

Both the Hornet and the Corolla Cross Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available driver alert monitors.

There are almost 2 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Hornet’s warranty.

The Hornet GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 72 more horsepower (268 vs. 196) and 143 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 152) than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Hornet R/T’s standard 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 92 more horsepower (288 vs. 196) and 231 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 152) than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Dodge Hornet is faster than the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet R/T running on electricity gets better mileage than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (77 city/77 hwy MPGe vs. 45 city/38 hwy).

The Hornet R/T can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The Corolla Cross Hybrid can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Hornet’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Hornet GT’s standard fuel tank has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (13.5 vs. 10.6 gallons).

The Hornet has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Hornet R/T’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Corolla Cross Hybrid:

The Hornet stops much shorter than the Corolla Cross Hybrid:

For better traction, the Hornet’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corolla Cross Hybrid (235/40R20 vs. 225/55R18).

The Hornet GT’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s standard 65 series tires. The Hornet’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE/Nightshade’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Hornet offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Hornet has a standard space-saver spare (not available on R/T) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Corolla Cross Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Hornet has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Hornet offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Hornet R/T handles at .87 G’s, while the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Hornet R/T executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE (26.5 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The Hornet has 9.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (98 vs. 88.4).

The Hornet has .2 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, 6 inches more rear legroom, 9.7 inches more rear hip room and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

The Hornet has a much larger cargo volume than the Corolla Cross Hybrid with its rear seat up (27 vs. 21.5 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Hornet’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Hornet’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Hornet uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Corolla Cross Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

When three different drivers share the Hornet, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and radio stations. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Hornet’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Corolla Cross Hybrid S’ standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent. The Corolla Cross Hybrid SE/XSE/Nightshade’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Hornet’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Hornet has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Corolla Cross Hybrid has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the LE/XSE/Nightshade.

Both the Dodge Hornet and Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Hornet features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Hornet keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Hornet’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Hornet has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE.

The Hornet’s optional ParkSense Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.